Wave gets Naftzger Park entertainment, booze contract; competitors say bid process unfair

City Hall turned over control of events and alcohol sales at the new Naftzger Park to the Wave venue on Tuesday, despite complaints from competing vendors who questioned the process and called it a “sweet deal” for the popular downtown venue operators.
The plan passed unanimously after a lengthy discussion with owners of two companies that also do event planning and promotion who complained that Wave, the operator of an Old Town venue, will have control over any alcohol sales at events at that park.
The new contract also gives Wave the right to control access to the newly renovated multi-million-dollar park and sell admission to events there.
(Read more: Local News |)

Ranson Financial2020-02-05T06:25:38-06:00February 4, 2020|News|

Five years after upholding it, Prairie Village city council votes to repeal ban on pit bulls

Following a lengthy public input session in which more than 20 people lobbied the council to take the step, the Prairie Village City Council on Monday repealed the city’s ban on pit bulls.
The move comes nearly five years after a similar proposal was voted down by the council. The issue was reintroduced for discussion at a council of the whole meeting in January, during which the council advanced it to final consideration for last night’s meeting. Prairie Village was one of a dwindling number of Shawnee Mission area cities that still had an outright ban on the breed on its books.
Prior to Monday’s meeting, the council received more than 80 emails from residents who wanted the ban lifted and nine who said they didn’t.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-02-05T06:28:51-06:00February 4, 2020|News|

Motion to rescind tax abatement for Dimensional Innovations fails after tense discussion among Overland Park council

An effort to rescind a tax abatement for an Overland Park architectural design company failed Monday night …
It was an early look at how the council members may interact with each other on what is likely to become an ongoing philosophical debate on public financing of private development projects. Farassati has been skeptical of most tax incentives and argues against them at length just about every time they come up. He has also made them a campaign issue in his run for Mayor Carl Gerlach’s seat.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)

Ranson Financial2020-02-05T06:28:15-06:00February 4, 2020|News|

Municipal Bond Trends for February 3, 2020

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Advisors.

Ranson Financial2026-10-22T10:29:42-05:00February 4, 2020|Finance|

KDOT’s Cost Share Program accepting applications for spring 2020

After a highly successful first round of the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Cost Share Program last fall, a second round of applications are now being accepted for spring 2020. Applications will be accepted from Feb. 3 through April 15.
The Cost Share Program is designed to provide financial assistance that leverages state funding with local and private funding for projects related to economic development as well as job growth and retention. It will provide funding to local entities for construction projects that improve safety, increase the total transportation investment and help both rural and urban areas of the state improve their transportation system.
(Read more: Kansas Transportation)

Ranson Financial2020-02-04T08:10:12-06:00February 4, 2020|News|

Kansas homeowners concerned by state’s rising property taxes

When Mary Coffman and her husband moved to Overland Park from Oklahoma City in 2014, they found a comparable home – and expected their property taxes to be about the same, too.
They were wrong.
The retirees went from paying around $2,600 a year in Oklahoma to $3,200 in Kansas. Six years after their move, Coffman said they’re handing over $5,600 a year, more than double their Oklahoma tax bill.
Coffman said they’re lucky enough that they’re not dependent on Social Security. But they still have to watch their spending and have even talked about returning to Oklahoma.

(Read more: Wichita Eagle)

Ranson Financial2020-02-04T08:10:24-06:00February 3, 2020|News|

Retirees wary of plan to refinance KPERS debt

Virgil Funk is nervous about Gov. Laura Kelly’s proposal to refinance the pension obligations of retired state workers and public teachers.
Funk, 82, retired in 1998 after working for 27 years as an educator in Topeka schools. He joined about 100 others from the Kansas Coalition of Public Employees in a rally Monday at the Statehouse.
Kelly for a second year in a row has called on lawmakers to extend debt payments to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System by 10 years as a means of lowering annual payments now. The process, which is similar to taking out a second mortgage on a house, is known as reamortizing.
(Read more: Community – Cherokee County News Advocate)

Ranson Financial2020-02-04T08:10:36-06:00February 3, 2020|News|

STAR bond attraction progresses

A new attraction in Derby’s STAR bond district has moved forward with developers predicting that work will likely begin this May and be completed in the spring of 2021.

Called the Derby Sports Zone, the indoor and outdoor sports center and restaurant would offer activities such as volleyball, sand soccer, yard games, and others.

Its 3.5-acre site was originally on the north side of the district near the dinosaur park, but was moved further south on Rock Road to an 11.2-acre parcel between the Don Hattan dealership and the Derby Marketplace because of a deed restriction on the sale of alcohol.
(Read more: Derby News | derbyinformer.com)

Ranson Financial2020-02-04T08:11:36-06:00February 3, 2020|News|

Reno County receives federal grant to fight opioid addiction

The Reno County Health Department is one of 21 organizations nationwide that has been selected to receive federal money to help fight opioid addiction in rural America.

The department will receive a chase of $14.8 million in funding that will be use to develop prevention programs, treatment and recovery services, and other public safety programs. The Reno County Health Department could receive up to $750,000 to help fund the programs.

The Rural Responses Initiative is part of the Just Department’s Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Program.

(Read more: KFDI 101.3)

Ranson Financial2020-02-03T20:17:13-06:00February 3, 2020|News|

Labette County Board of Commissioners announce decision to close Parsons Judicial Center

Monday afternoon, The Labette County Board of Commissioners released their decision to close Parsons Judicial Center except when court is actually in session.
This comes after Labette County Judge Oliver Kent Lynch’s decision to hear cases in the Oswego Courthouse, a move that was not included in the county’s budget.
The minimum impact that would be incurred on the budget was estimated to be $250,000 in increased costs, primarily security spending.
(Read more: KSNF/KODE – FourStatesHomepage.com)

Ranson Financial2020-02-04T08:12:10-06:00February 3, 2020|News|